With United manager Louis van Gaal insisting it is “realistic” to expect him to turn United into European champions again before his contract expires in 2017, Schweinsteiger, who has won the competition with Bayern Munich, agreed.

“It is realistic to expect us to win the Premier League and the Champions League [before my contract expires]", said Van Gaal. “Because I did it everywhere.

“We have made progressions in the maturity of the team and the balance of the team. That is why Bastian Schweinsteiger is here, but also [Morgan] Schneiderlin gives more composure to the team.

“We have improved when we have to compare us with the team of last year, but we need still time. “We have to improve to win the Premier League or a tournament like the Champions League. We are still improving and I can see that every week.

“Also reaching the final is also an aim. Winning the final is a little bit luck, it is not only quality. I think Manchester United knows and remembers that fantastically when they win the Champions League [in 1999].

“I saw, at that time, the people of Bayern Munich going downstairs and then United scored in the last minute and then in extra time they scored again. You can say that is quality, but when you see the match, you know it is not like that.

"When you come into the final, it is a fantastic, but in the media it is nothing. For me as a manager, when you reach the final, you have done fantastically.”

United would dearly love to reach the final this year, particularly as it would improve their chances of signing some of the elite players in world football and help regain their status as one of the giants of European football.

And, having claimed before the Eindhoven game that he did not know whether his team was good enough to succeed in Europe, van Gaal has obviously been enthused by United’s domestic form.

So, too, has Schweinsteiger, who will face German opposition for the first time since leaving Munich.

The 31-year-old arrived in England followed by whispers that his physical powers are in sharp decline, but the World Cup winner once again took the opportunity to shrug off the Bavarian smear campaign, as he talked excitedly about United’s rapid improvement.

Schweinsteiger has impressed many since his arrival in England

Schweinsteiger has not started every game for United, but he has been involved in all seven of their Premier League fixtures, as well as all three of their European matches.

Having looked heavy in his first few appearances in pre-season, Schweinsteiger is proving he was signed to make an impact on the pitch, as well as in the dressing room.

“I think this team is good enough to win it,” he said. “But, of course, first of all we have to do our work.

“We lost the first match against PSV Eindhoven. It would have been a different score at the end of the day if we had taken our chances to score a second or a third, but as the manager says, now we have to win our games at home.

Schweinsteiger says the demands of the Premier League impact on Europe

“Of course there is a difference playing in England to the Bundesliga because there are a lot of matches and there is no winter break.

“But you also have the ball in games, and if you look after the ball properly, you can handle the physical demands of the Premier League better.

“To be honest, I feel good, my body is working really well and I’m happy about that. I’m looking forward to playing in all these matches. When you play here or away, it is always a fantastic atmosphere. It’s a lot of fun playing in the Premier League.

“I have settled quickly, first of all the club, the people are friendly and of course of my team-mates made it easy for me.

“I know the manager and the staff. Ok, no one really speaks German, but that was not a problem for me. I am at an age where you can learn it and handle it. I feel very comfortable here and especially when I play at Old Trafford.”